Brown Hart Gardens

The gardens on a substation.
Location: Duke Street, Mayfair, W1K 6WP
Description: Brown Hart Gardens, is a curious public garden on top of an electricity substation close to Bond Street station.
It dates back to 1889 when a communal garden was laid for what were then working class dwellings in nearby Brown Street and Hart Street. In 1902 the gardens were removed to accommodate an electricity substation topped in Baroque-style to a design by Charles Stanley Peach.
Upset locals protested claiming that it attracted 'disorderly boys' and 'verminous women'.
To appease and compensate angry local residents, the Duke of Westminster insisted that a paved Italian garden featuring trees in tubs be placed on top of the substation.
In 2013 the gardens were refurbished and a modern glass cafe included in the new design.
It's all part of the Grosvenor Estate and rules still apply 'No idle or disorderly person or person in an intoxicated, unclean or verminous condition is allowed in the garden. Games, quarrelling, shouting, singing and the practice of gymnastics are prohibited on penalty of prosecution.'


The gardens on a substation. |
Ranking This Month: 1675/3074
Pages Hit This Month: 32
Your Comments:
Other places nearby:
The Green Park», 0.7km
Zoologist Gosse lived here», 3.6km
Pimlico Gardens and Huskisson», 2.0km
The Highbury Barn», 3.5km
Clouds Godfather lived here», 6.6km
Joseph Banks lived here», 0.8km
Painshill», 16.km
The Oldest Park in London», 2.8km
Brockwell Park's Walled Garden», 4.7km
Richmond Hill's View», 7.5km
Location Pinpointed:
Open Street Maps», Google Maps»